Apparatus for the dissolution of lead ores.



S. W. ANDERSON.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISSOLUTION 0F LEAD ORES. APPLICATION FILED NOV- 29. I913.

1,165,742. Patented Dec.28,1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTQR.

BY WTTORNEYS.

S. W. ANDERSON.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISSOLUTION 0F LEAD ORES. APPLICATION man NOV. 29. 1913.

1,165,742.. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WI T IVESSES:

s. w. ANDERSON. APPARATUS FOR THE DISSOLUTION 0F LEAD ORES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1913- 1 165,,?%%. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

9 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Vb "I N E N n z N I I? \J L:

W/T/VESSES: uvvmroe COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wl\snmaro.-l. n. cy

SAMUEL W.

ANDERSON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

APPARATUS FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF LEAD GEES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, EH5.

Application filed November 29, 1913. Serial No. 803,831.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, SAMUEL W. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Spokane, in the county ofSpokane and State of Washington, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Dissolution of Lead Ores, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to apparatus for the manufacture of lead solutions directly from lead ore by a wetprocess and without the usual smelting of the ore to metallic lead.

Inasmuch as there are several important steps necessary to be taken to complete the process named in an efiectual and economical manner, the apparatus must necessarily comprise a working combination of a number of mechanical constructions each adapted for its special functions andso combined with the general construction that a finished product is substantially and economically produced.

The apparatus is calculated to provide for the taking of the primary lead ore in a pulverized state, treating the same to a solution of nitric acid, heating the same, recovering the oxids of nitrogen in the form of dilute nitric acid and appropriating the same for re-use in treatingthe pulverized lead ore, and to separate the nitrate of lead from the accompanying iron, sulfur and other elements. p

The object of this invention is to provide the necessary mechanical construction by means of which the processes named are carried out and a pure lead nitrate solution produced.

The construction consists of elements, the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a broken-away view in elevation of the nitric acid containing tanks, the stoneware vessels in which the pulverized ore and the nitric acid are mixed, the connecting pipes between the containing tanks and the vessels, the conveyers for the pulverized ore leading to the vessels, a trough for a bath in which the vessels are stationed, a regenerating tower and a connection between the vessels and the regenerating tower. Fig. 2, is an enlarged elevation of one of the vessels with the connecting parts brokenaway, together with a broken-away view of the trough in which the tanks are stationed showing steam pipes extending longitudinally within the trough. Fig. 3, is a central, vertical sectional view of one or" the vessels, and Fig. 4, is a broken-away view in elevation of a pair of the vessels stationed within the heating trough together with conveyors leading from the vessels and settling tanks in which the elements in solution are separated from the solids.

Referring now to the detail construction in which like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout 1 the several views, stoneware vessels 10 (Fig. l) are stationed in a horizontally arranged trough 11 having closed bottom, sides and ends and an open top which may be closed between the vessels 10 to retain the heat. At one side of the top of the vessels 10 are stoppered openings 12. Mounted above the vessels 10 as upon a frame or floor 13 are tanks 1%, as receptacles for the dilute nitric acid. Leading from the bottom of the tanks 1% are vertically ar ranged pipes 15 connected with a horizontally arranged pipe 16. Subjacent to the horizontally arranged pipe 16 is another horizontally arranged pipe 1'? connected with the pipe 16 by the vertically arranged pipes 18. Opening into the pipe 1'? adjacent to the stoppered openings 12 in the vow sels 10 are faucets l9. Valves 20 are placed in the vertically arranged pipes 15 and valves 21 in the vertically arranged pipes 18. Chutes 22 lead from the frame or floor level 13 to positions adjacent to the stoppered openings 12 in the vessels 10. Leading from the top of the vessels 10 are pipes 23 connected with the horizontally arranged stoneware pipe 2 1 leading into the regenerating tower 25.

The specific structure of the inside of the tower 25 may vary, and the tower may be filled wa'th balls 26, plates or other baiiies and operated according to the art of regeneration as disclosed in inventions pertaining thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the trough 11 is provided with steam pipes 27 and is filled with water which is heated by means of the pipes 27, furnishing a hot bath for the vessels 10 to maintain a uniform high degree of heat. The vessels 10 are contracted at their base as at 10 and are provided at a point near the bottom thereof with tubular openings 28 which have attached thereto faucets 29 containing cutoff valves 30. These vessels 10 are. also provided with agitators 31 mounted on shafts 32 having bearings 33 in the base of the vessels and 34c at the tops thereof. The tops of the shafts 3a are provided with gears 35 adapted to mesh with gears 36 arranged on the horizontal shaft 37, such shaft being connected with a source of power.

Referring now to Fig. 1, an inclined conduit 38 open at the end 38 is placed underneath the faucets 29 and opens into the tank 39, which is provided with a transversely arranged baflle i0 extending upwardly to a point near the top of the tank 39, as at 41. Near the top of the tank 39 at the end 39 is an outlet 12 to which is attached a hose 43 leading into a subjacently located tank 44-. Another tank 45 is located subjacent to the tank 4-4: and a hose 47 reaches from one to the other.

In the practical application of the construction as described, a charge of nitric acid is taken from the tanks 14 into the vessels 10 through the pipes 15, 16, 18 and 17 and the faucets 19, flexible tubes 46 being used to convey the same into the tanks 10 at the openings 12, and a charge of pulverized galena ore through the chutes 22 in at the same openings 12, the water in the trough 11 having been first heated by means of the steam pipes 27. hen a solution of v the ore is effected by the action of the heat and the accompanying agitation, the faucets 29 are opened and the same drawn off into the trough 38 by means of which the same is conveyed first to the tank 39, then to the tank 44:. The ore that fails to go into solution remains in the bottom of the vessels 10 and is treated by the next following charge of nitric acid.

In the passage of the contents from the vessels 10 through the tank 39, the baffle 40 and the wall 39 catch and retain the solids lighter than galena including sulfur, and the solution is carried by means of the hose 43 into the tank 4A. In the tanks 4% and 45 the lead nitrate solutions are purified. The oxids of nitrogen that have accumulated in the tops of the vessels it) during the process of effecting the solution are drawn out through the pipes 23 into the stoneware pipe 2& and thence into the regenerating tower 25 and when againrecovered as nitric acid are utilized to again charge the vessels 10.

It is understood that there isa draft upwardly through the regenerating tower 25 by reason of which the plugs 12 in the ves sels 10 may be removed for the purpose of recharging of the vessels. When the plugs 12 are out a draft of air circulates through the openings 12 to and through the vessels 10, the pipes 23 and 2a to the regenerating tower 25 carrying the oxids of nitrogen with it for treatment as heretofore indicated. This permits of a continuous operation without the cooling of the vessels 10.

that I claim is,

An apparatus for the dissolution of lead ores comprising a plurality of stoneware vessels, a liquid bath in which said vessels are partially immersed, means for heating said liquid bath to an elevated temperature, and means for removing from said vessels the gaseous products of reaction, preserving the same and converting the same back into the elements from which they were derived by the action in said vessels, said.

means comprising a. separate tubular connection with the top of said vessels, a horizontally arranged conduit connected with each of said tubular connections, a regenerating tower with which is connected said conduit, each of said vessels having an air inlet opening in the upper portion thereof. and plugs normally closing said openings during the formation of said gaseous prodnets, and removable at will to permit the entrance of atmospheric air to replace the said gaseous products and cause said gaseous products to be drawn into the regenerating tower when the plugs are removed.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

G120. E. .CANFIELD,

WILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G. 

